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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
10:34
A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking
Published on: January 28, 2019
Activity-dependent synaptic plasticity of NMDA receptors
Nelson Rebola1, Bettadapura N Srikumar, Christophe Mulle
1Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire de la Synapse, CNRS, Bordeaux Neuroscience Institute, University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux Cedex, France.
The Journal of Physiology
|October 14, 2009
Summary
Synaptic plasticity, crucial for learning, involves both AMPA and NMDA receptors. This review highlights that NMDA receptors, not just AMPA receptors, undergo activity-dependent changes, impacting synaptic function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Synaptic Plasticity
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Synaptic efficacy modulation underlies learning and memory.
- Most research focuses on AMPA receptor plasticity, with NMDA receptors primarily studied for induction.
- Excitatory synapses utilize both AMPA and NMDA receptors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence for activity-dependent plasticity of NMDA receptors.
- To explore mechanisms of NMDA receptor plasticity.
- To discuss the functional implications of NMDA receptor modulation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of experimental studies on synaptic plasticity.
- Analysis of research on AMPA and NMDA receptor function.
- Synthesis of findings on bidirectional synaptic modulation.
Main Results:
- Synaptic NMDA receptors are subject to long-term activity-dependent changes.
- Mechanisms for NMDA receptor plasticity may differ from those of AMPA receptors.
- Bidirectional modulation of NMDA receptor responses is evident.
Conclusions:
- NMDA receptor plasticity is a significant factor in experience-dependent brain function.
- Understanding NMDA receptor modulation is key to elucidating learning and memory mechanisms.
- Bidirectional changes in NMDA receptor activity have functional implications for plasticity.
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